I’m all for private shuttles, but we can’t allow them to load in bus stops.

Maybe we need to white zone (or whatever color works better) for a limited time in the morning. This would provide a space for the buses to load while not delaying Muni as these private buses usually load for several minutes instead of fractions of a minute.

Andy Chow

As long as the private shuttles don’t layover or otherwise wait for riders, there shouldn’t be a problem to pick up riders at Muni stops as long as those aren’t on the busiest lines (14, 30, 38, Market Street, etc). White zones are problematic because they are expensive (would no single transportation provider would want to pay so that its competitors can use for free), and essentially require the permission of the business and/or property owner to install it. White zones work well for hotels and night life venues (which are sponsored and paid by the businesses for taxis, limos, and tour buses).

I think the better strategy is to recommend private shuttle to use routes that are parallel but not on the major Muni corridors (Polk instead of Van Ness, South Van Ness or Valencia instead of Mission, Clement instead of Geary).

mikesonn

“I think the better strategy is to recommend private shuttle to use routes that are parallel but not on the major Muni corridors (Polk instead of Van Ness, South Van Ness or Valencia instead of Mission, Clement instead of Geary).”

Polk is a major Muni route AND a major cycling route. Valencia is a major cycling route.

“As long as the private shuttles don’t layover or otherwise wait for riders, there shouldn’t be a problem to pick up riders at Muni stops”

I agree with this but they do layover. Which is why I was thinking maybe a 6am-8am early morning white zone, but maybe a green zone would be better as it would serve for high turn over throughout the whole day.

Here is a map:http://g.co/maps/sgsx2
I can tell you for a fact that the google bus that stops at Union/Columbus uses the 30 stop on the NW corner and stays there for at least several light cycles.